Letter From The Chair – September 2025

Dear Friends

Here we are in September with the summer behind us, where did it go? It has been a funny mix of heatwaves and storms. On the plus side it seems to have given us bumper crops of apples and plums according to my vegetable and fruit growing friends. From now on it is dropping temperatures and earlier and earlier dark evenings. Thank goodness for an interesting calendar of events still on the U3A agenda.

I really enjoyed the August monthly talk, given by Jane Harrison on her recent trip to Peru and its history through archaeological records. I was pleased to pick up the tip on how identify llamas from alpacas, pointy stand ears for llamas and floppy ears for alpacas. I am always mixing them up. As a person interested in textiles, I was amazed by the quality of the textiles found dating back 1,000 of years. The colours, designs and fine texture of the cloth. The use of the alpaca wool in weaving fine cloths, which did not happen in England until Sir Titus Salt used it in his textile mills at Saltaire Village. Another fact learnt through one of our talks.

I took the opportunity to go as a guest to the Science and Technology’s September meeting on the perks and perils of AI. Trying to stay on top of this vast and growing area. It certainly made me think that I cannot be an ostrich regarding these developments and I have signed up for the January workshop.

An event I went to last week, was at Tennant’s of Leyburn. It was one of their talks linked to an auction event. This time it was Art Deco jewellery, which has remained popular since the 1930s right through to today. I am lucky enough to have some modern reproduction Art Deco costume jewellery broaches which I enjoy wearing. The real thing is way out of my league with the use of diamonds in platinum settings. They go for thousand of pounds and dollars.

I hope you are getting ready for the October social event, an evening of music and food from the 60s and 70s, at Glaxo’s social club. Dress for the decade with a chance to win a prize for the best outfit. As I said last month looking forward to seeing many of you there for an evening of youthful memories, testing our limbs as we try to dance as we once did.

Looking forward to the September meeting as I am a crime fiction fan. Hence Susan Parry’s talk on her Yorkshire Dales Mystery Series really appeals to me.

Bye for now
Julie